| Time to challenge the status qou? 09:39 - Feb 27 with 5568 views | ArnieM |
Last night twas the last straw for me. If ever there was an opportunity to beat Man Utd , it was now . We..McKenna, failed, miserably IMHO.
I've officially now lost faith in this cliche of "Trust the process". What process? Repeating the same mistakes game after game ?
The post match comments of
"we will take the positives"
"we will learn from this "
"The opposition are a quality team"
All now are sounding quite hollow to me. Its like GroundHog day.
McKenna is either unable to adapt, and change tactically or is stubborn and inflexible in his approach. I edging towards the latter. simply because he, and the players say , "we will not change the way we play"...WHY NOT its clearly not working the way we play is it ?
McKenna is trying to keep Town up on the back of a very inexperienced front line, (average age 20yrs old ) Game after game we picks the same formation and and the same players. ALL our experience sits on the bench!! What is the use of bringing on these players, cold into a game with 10 mins to go? They wont even have warmed up by the time the final whistle goes.
Player choices by Mckenna :
Where is Broadhead, Szmodics, Hirst, Chaplin (yes hes injured but hes had no look in even when fit )? These players should be starting EVERY game and be our front line.
Yes the nation and everyone on the football world is waxing lyrical about Liam Delap. He has tremendous POTENTIAL,. He gets by on raw aggression, blistering pace, power and strength. But when he fades as he so often does after about 30 mins , what else has he in his locker atm ? Yes. hes scored the majority of goals for us this season, but that just 10...you cant blame other players for not scoring , when they spend all their time on the bench!
Hirst offers something different . He can hold the ball up , he plays other forwards into the game . Within 2 mins of being on last night he slipped a ball through to Broadhead in the box. It didnt come off, but this is the type of ball we need Delap to do ...Its not in his game atm . He likes to run at a defenders, head down, ( usually from the half way line). Opponents have sussed this now , and put 2-3 players on him ...he loses the ball. He doesnt look up to see who is around him to lay it off to. His soul mindset is to blast a shot on goal. Great, if it comes off. But how often did it last night?
Clarke . Why is he getting that shirt ahead of Broadhead? He's lightweight, has no end product , rarely crosses the ball into the box.
Phillogen : Why is he in the team on the right wing ahead of Hutch? Yes he score 2 goals against a very poor Utd defence , one was an absolute gift , so Im not even counting that tbh. What else did he offer for the rest of the game ? Or any game hes played in? His tracking back / defending out of possession is poor and ineffective.
But these are young inexperienced players, So I can forgive them their lack of experience atm. But McKenna KEEPS picking them ahead of more experienced players who can / do offer more stealth, and inventive attacking play that we are not seeing from the kids. This is down to the manager, not the players.
Szmodics: Where the hell is he in this team? The guy score over 30 goals ;last season. Mckenna tracked him for 2 seasons, and paid over the odds for him, so why isnt he playing him??
We have seen so many games this season , that frankly we should have won. But due to Mckenna's approach , and lack of adaptability we have lost these points. WE will get relegated ( as we all expected) but when yiu look back at this season , I really do wonder how we would have fared with a more experienced manager at the helm.
I wont be surprised to see Hirst , Szmodics, Chaplin and Broadhead asked to leave in the summer ....If you were them, would you hang around?
We have the payers at the club, fit and ready to play, but Mckenna is blinkered to that fact and chooses to keep picking these young players with vast, but as yet, unproven talent, to try and keep us up. He is expecting far too much iof them , and is ignioring some very good experienced players.
For the love of God man, ADAPT! |  |
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| Time to challenge the status qou? on 11:29 - Feb 27 with 1311 views | EuanTown |
| Time to challenge the status qou? on 10:44 - Feb 27 by Pinewoodblue |
Considering Man Utd bossed the first half we must have had approaching 70% possession in the second haft to end up with 56% for the match as a whole. |
But 70% in your own half or passing it endlessly sideways and back when 3.2 down against 10 men is not a good statistic. |  | | |
| Time to challenge the status qou? on 11:38 - Feb 27 with 1281 views | textbackup |
| Time to challenge the status qou? on 10:44 - Feb 27 by Pinewoodblue |
Considering Man Utd bossed the first half we must have had approaching 70% possession in the second haft to end up with 56% for the match as a whole. |
You can have 100% of the possession, but unless you’ve an idea what to do with it (other than turn inside, pass backwards) you aren’t going to get very far.
Possession with purpose is what we had, and need to get back |  |
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| Time to challenge the status qou? on 11:42 - Feb 27 with 1257 views | ArnieM |
| Time to challenge the status qou? on 11:22 - Feb 27 by homer_123 |
Adapt....
We've played 4 at the back, 3 at the back, 5 at the back.
We've played with a holding right sided player, an attacking right sided player.
We've gone at teams, we've sat back and looked to play on the break.
We've pressed, we've held.
We even seen 2 up top for the first time ever under McKenna (yes, albeit for 15 mins max).
So, when you say, adapt, what do you actually mean? |
bring on our more experienced players MUCH earlier.. Start with our more experienced players instead of persisting with the youngsters, who try their best m, but frankly look all at sea at this level. Dont be afraid to go with two strikers up front at some point in a game.. | |
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| Time to challenge the status qou? on 11:47 - Feb 27 with 1238 views | franz_tyson |
Once, we went to see the tribute Band Status Qou Fronted by Francis Risso and Rick Pirfatt. |  | | |
| Time to challenge the status qou? on 11:55 - Feb 27 with 1201 views | homer_123 |
| Time to challenge the status qou? on 11:42 - Feb 27 by ArnieM |
bring on our more experienced players MUCH earlier.. Start with our more experienced players instead of persisting with the youngsters, who try their best m, but frankly look all at sea at this level. Dont be afraid to go with two strikers up front at some point in a game.. |
Again, if you look at our line ups this season. We have played the more experienced players.
https://www.footballwebpages.co.uk/ipswich-town/appearances
KM's rotated, as he always does. One of the arguments I've seen this year is that our players from L1 aren't good enough for the Prem. So, to play our more experienced players means asking Massimo to play maybe? Again, what do you mean here? I think, also, you forget the injury issues we have had this year. Which means KMs hands, to a point, have been tied.
The two up top point - yes, that maybe possible. But doing so would need a significant shift change to the way we play. Simply putting two up top in, say a 3-5-2 or 4-4-2, doesn't mean in and of itself that the results are different as it requires a different way of playing, we'd need to train for it, change the runs and patterns of play - it's not an overnight switch. It's certainly something we can try.
To suggest KM doesn't adapt is wrong though. |  |
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| Time to challenge the status qou? on 12:02 - Feb 27 with 1180 views | Pinewoodblue |
| Time to challenge the status qou? on 11:26 - Feb 27 by carlo88 |
Kieran looks worn out, which is probably affecting his decision-making. I imagine he is also finding out that keeping all these players happy, especially the new ones, is a huge task hence his reluctance to play the old guard. There could be some discontent behind the scenes which won't be helping. It's fairly obvious the old team spirit has gone, and that's why we'll go down. Big question is whether we can bring it back next season. |
Good point about KMc he also look’s lonely, lacking support around him. |  |
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| Time to challenge the status qou? on 12:09 - Feb 27 with 1168 views | OldFart71 |
I hate criticising KM as I am a staunch supporter of him, not only as a manager but as a person. But sadly the same old rhetoric is wearing thin. We signed Philogene when we needed another midfielder. Morsy has had a bad season, Phillips has been better, but a bit in and out, Cajuste can't seem to play 90 minutes and Taylor doesn't appear to be the answer and Loungo like Morsy isn't getting any younger and probably isn't Premier League class. At this stage of the season where although statistically possible to survive it doesn't look like we will so why not experiment a bit. I think we need to start planning for next season's Championship campaign and to find out who we keep and who goes. | | | |
| Time to challenge the status qou? on 12:11 - Feb 27 with 1152 views | Libero |
| Time to challenge the status qou? on 10:49 - Feb 27 by mellowblue |
It's not really a criticism of him, more about how to accommodate him, the whole pattern of play has changed, or have struggled to play our progressive football due to the strength of opposition press so have resorted to the more direct approach. Hard to say. |
It's changed because it had to- Delap was a purchase to facilitate that.
There's no way we could play the kind of football we did in League One and the Championship in the Premier League, we often dominated games by holding possession and suffocating opposition- the sheer standard increase in the Premier League means that we struggle to do that against even the smallest of sides in this division, that's why the style of play has adapted- not out of some kind of desperate resort as you insinuate. |  | | |
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| Time to challenge the status qou? on 12:23 - Feb 27 with 1110 views | OldFart71 |
| Time to challenge the status qou? on 10:26 - Feb 27 by FrankMarshall |
Honestly think we will be a top 6 side in the championship, not a top 2. Our midfield in particular is going to be much weaker, and many of our seasoned professionals will move on (as will Delap). Can't believe how poorly we've played at times this season. That second half against Man Utd? Another level. |
I don't agree the midfield will be much weaker. Well if it is we are in big trouble. There needs to be a major clear out in that position. Phillips will go back to City, Loungo let go, Taylor sold, Cajuste kept if possible and Morsy I am not sure about. This season he's been poor. Found out by the pace of Premier League players and I'm not sure he could hack it even in the Championship. Delap most likely sold and a nice slice of Premier League money coming our way. Whether any others will be sold I am not sure. Neither Hutchinson or Davis have proven themselves in the Prem. I suppose Muric might be allowed to leave ? Also I would like to see us not necessarily abandoning our way of vetting players but to also get about and watch a few actually playing to determine their strengths and weaknesses. | | | |
| Time to challenge the status qou? on 12:24 - Feb 27 with 1104 views | itfc1108 |
| Time to challenge the status qou? on 10:12 - Feb 27 by Marshalls_Mullet |
I cant see any sensible club or manager agreeing to that kind of obligation. |
I do think there might be some truth in that with Hutchinson. | | | |
| Time to challenge the status qou? on 12:51 - Feb 27 with 1054 views | Guthrum |
| Time to challenge the status qou? on 11:19 - Feb 27 by homer_123 |
As I posted last night - we had 1 attacker and 1 midfielder in the box for the majority of the time, against 6 Man Utd players.
You can see why Clarke, Davis, Jaden weren't putting crosses in. |
Tho keeping on passing the ball around until we lost it wasn't gaining any advantage, either. At least lobbing it in from centrally or crossing from wide stood a chance of making something happen. A bit of chaos which Delap could have taken advantage of, (another) mix up between defenders and 'keeper, perhaps even an own goal. More worthy of a try than what we were doing.
Especially as ManU were sitting back and letting us move the ball up to their defensive line. |  |
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| Time to challenge the status qou? on 13:00 - Feb 27 with 1027 views | ITFCSG |
| Time to challenge the status qou? on 12:51 - Feb 27 by Guthrum |
Tho keeping on passing the ball around until we lost it wasn't gaining any advantage, either. At least lobbing it in from centrally or crossing from wide stood a chance of making something happen. A bit of chaos which Delap could have taken advantage of, (another) mix up between defenders and 'keeper, perhaps even an own goal. More worthy of a try than what we were doing.
Especially as ManU were sitting back and letting us move the ball up to their defensive line. |
Look at how Villa reacted to the opposition going down to 10 men compared to us.
Night and day.
People were laughing at Rashford for being crap, he looks prime Messi compared to Clarke and Philogene | | | |
| Time to challenge the status qou? on 13:08 - Feb 27 with 1010 views | Guthrum |
| Time to challenge the status qou? on 13:00 - Feb 27 by ITFCSG |
Look at how Villa reacted to the opposition going down to 10 men compared to us.
Night and day.
People were laughing at Rashford for being crap, he looks prime Messi compared to Clarke and Philogene |
They conceded then scored, the other way around to us? I don't think we can be accused of holding back after the sending off, just our effectiveness in turning that into chances.
Philogene who scored twice last night? | |
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| Time to challenge the status qou? on 13:11 - Feb 27 with 1003 views | Herbivore |
| Time to challenge the status qou? on 11:22 - Feb 27 by homer_123 |
Adapt....
We've played 4 at the back, 3 at the back, 5 at the back.
We've played with a holding right sided player, an attacking right sided player.
We've gone at teams, we've sat back and looked to play on the break.
We've pressed, we've held.
We even seen 2 up top for the first time ever under McKenna (yes, albeit for 15 mins max).
So, when you say, adapt, what do you actually mean? |
No, not THAT adapting. The other kind of adapting where we rip everything up and start again and magically transform into a top 4 side. THAT kind of adapting is what's really needed. |  |
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| Time to challenge the status qou? on 13:12 - Feb 27 with 998 views | Vaughan8 |
I don't think Mckenna knows his best line up, but for someone who used subs so well in previous seasons, this season the subs very rarely work. I know we are in a higher league,, but the subs don't seem to change anything.
Seems like CLarke and Jaden are getting more playing time than they warrant. I'm not in the "Broadhead is our saviour" camp, but what does he need to do to start a game, even though to be fair the last few games he's come on and largely done nothing.
Why is Szmodics on the bench if we aren't going to bring him on when we are losing (or for 3 mins last night?) If he's not fit put someone else on there.
Its all a bit depressing and weird at the moment. | | | |
| Time to challenge the status qou? on 13:14 - Feb 27 with 987 views | homer_123 |
| Time to challenge the status qou? on 13:11 - Feb 27 by Herbivore |
No, not THAT adapting. The other kind of adapting where we rip everything up and start again and magically transform into a top 4 side. THAT kind of adapting is what's really needed. |
Ahhhhhh - gotcha. | |
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| Time to challenge the status qou? on 13:15 - Feb 27 with 990 views | Herbivore |
| Time to challenge the status qou? on 13:00 - Feb 27 by ITFCSG |
Look at how Villa reacted to the opposition going down to 10 men compared to us.
Night and day.
People were laughing at Rashford for being crap, he looks prime Messi compared to Clarke and Philogene |
It's almost like Villa are much better than us and have better players. They can bring on someone like Rashford who has dozens of England caps, we can't. And we still drew 1-1 with Villa with 10 men because it's not that easy to break down a side playing with 10 men when they are seeking to hold on to a result. | |
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| Time to challenge the status qou? on 13:16 - Feb 27 with 974 views | homer_123 |
| Time to challenge the status qou? on 12:51 - Feb 27 by Guthrum |
Tho keeping on passing the ball around until we lost it wasn't gaining any advantage, either. At least lobbing it in from centrally or crossing from wide stood a chance of making something happen. A bit of chaos which Delap could have taken advantage of, (another) mix up between defenders and 'keeper, perhaps even an own goal. More worthy of a try than what we were doing.
Especially as ManU were sitting back and letting us move the ball up to their defensive line. |
Just offering the observation as to why we weren't. As a wide player or even from a central position, looking up and seeing Delap marked by 3 players and a midfielder covered by - you can see why they chose not to.
As an aside, we couldn't win a header in our own box last night....let alone theirs! ;) | |
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| Time to challenge the status qou? on 13:17 - Feb 27 with 959 views | homer_123 |
| Time to challenge the status qou? on 13:08 - Feb 27 by Guthrum |
They conceded then scored, the other way around to us? I don't think we can be accused of holding back after the sending off, just our effectiveness in turning that into chances.
Philogene who scored twice last night? |
One was a tap in, like penalties, they don't count.
The other, was a cross, which also doesn't count. | |
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| Time to challenge the status qou? on 13:26 - Feb 27 with 922 views | DarkHorse |
We've gone from relentless to ponderous in attack, and aren't defending like we enjoy it, like our lives depend on it.
Where was the drive last night? The desire to win that game? Broadhead benched again for a slow and ineffectual Clarke, then played out of position. Szmodics brought on for 2 mins. Hirst never gets more than 10 minutes despite Delap increasingly losing the battle earlier in games. We looked absolutely clueless despite being given a couple of huge helping hands. So disappointing. |  | | |
| Time to challenge the status qou? on 13:30 - Feb 27 with 907 views | ITFCSG |
| Time to challenge the status qou? on 13:08 - Feb 27 by Guthrum |
They conceded then scored, the other way around to us? I don't think we can be accused of holding back after the sending off, just our effectiveness in turning that into chances.
Philogene who scored twice last night? |
They peppered our box and goal with shots right? Up to the final whistle. If not how could Palmer be the MOTM by far?
How many saves did Onana make after they were down to 10 last night? Less than what Palmer did at Villa in injury time alone! | | | |
| Time to challenge the status qou? on 13:32 - Feb 27 with 893 views | Guthrum |
| Time to challenge the status qou? on 13:16 - Feb 27 by homer_123 |
Just offering the observation as to why we weren't. As a wide player or even from a central position, looking up and seeing Delap marked by 3 players and a midfielder covered by - you can see why they chose not to.
As an aside, we couldn't win a header in our own box last night....let alone theirs! ;) |
Moreover, the wide player was usually being covered by a couple of theirs.
I can see why it didn't happen to start off with, but once it was clear we were running out of time, I feel they could have been a bit more adventurous. Perhaps relying upon Delap to burst away from his markers as the ball arrived. | |
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| Time to challenge the status qou? on 13:39 - Feb 27 with 866 views | homer_123 |
| Time to challenge the status qou? on 13:32 - Feb 27 by Guthrum |
Moreover, the wide player was usually being covered by a couple of theirs.
I can see why it didn't happen to start off with, but once it was clear we were running out of time, I feel they could have been a bit more adventurous. Perhaps relying upon Delap to burst away from his markers as the ball arrived. |
Yes, you'd think with 10 to 15 to go, we might try something different, given Hirst was on the pitch.
The doubling up was clear, particularly on their left against JP. Not quite so evident against Clarke on their left, I thought he did find more space that JP and had more opportunities to deliver. | |
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| Time to challenge the status qou? on 13:52 - Feb 27 with 841 views | Guthrum |
| Time to challenge the status qou? on 13:30 - Feb 27 by ITFCSG |
They peppered our box and goal with shots right? Up to the final whistle. If not how could Palmer be the MOTM by far?
How many saves did Onana make after they were down to 10 last night? Less than what Palmer did at Villa in injury time alone! |
That's a function of skill and self-organisation differential, their ability to break through on goal, not of reaction.
Villa's attack is better than ours. ManU's defence is better with 10 men than ours is under the same circumstances. This shouldn't be surprising, given the quality and experience of the squads. | |
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| Time to challenge the status qou? on 16:31 - Feb 27 with 742 views | bsw72 |
A few things from my perspective - not to say you are wrong, but I have a different view.
Post match comments should be taken with a pinch of salt - they will not be the conversations in the dressing room. I am sure if the dressing room talk was made public, people would also crucify McKenna for that.
Experience - I see some forgiveness for players who are young and inexperienced at this level, so would we not have the same tolerance for the manager?
Delap / Hirst - You acknowledge they are different players and then reference that we need Delap to play more of the same balls that Hirst does, could Hirst benefit from doing more of what Delap does or should we accept they are different players with different strengths - I have seen Delap play some good balls in, but I doubt that is why we invested in him.
Adaptability - I think there have been small adjustments through the season, but managers making fundamental changes to the playing style of their teams is almost non existent - and this always earns the ire of fans as they see it as inflexibility. I think the truth is slightly less obvious, managers buy players that they see suitable for the formation(s) they train for, therefore changing the formation could present a challenge to the players. While fans may see fundamental changes to structure and formation as an obvious solution to try, I'm not sure it actually is with a squad of 25.
Not going to enter the debate about players - this tends to be subjective. |  | | |
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